ALARYAN.com

Mumbai, 12 Feb 2024 : The GoSports Foundation held its Annual Sports Awards Night 2024 last Monday, which witnessed the participation of over 100 athletes, mentors, and supporters. The glittering ceremony honored champions who have excelled globally in their respective sports.

Paralympics heroes Dharambir and Rakesh Kumar were crowned Athletes of the Year, alongside table tennis star Sreeja Akula and badminton duo Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty. The awards celebrated India's extraordinary year in sports, recognizing champions who have achieved remarkable success both domestically and internationally.

The evening recognized consistent performance from athletes like Muhammed Anas and Nikhat Zareen, while consecutive Paralympics gold medalist Sumit Antil was named the Most Valuable Paralympian for his record-breaking performance in Paris.

Table tennis sensation Sreeja Akula revealed that her childhood aspiration to represent India at multi-sport events paved the way for her success. The athlete credited her sister, who sacrificed her sporting ambitions due to financial constraints, as a major inspiration.

Meanwhile, Sumit Antil shared his determination to achieve a 70-meter mark in javelin throwing, despite being seen as impossible by many before he broke it within just 1.5 years of announcing his goal.

Women's cricketer Nandini Kashyap received the Spotlight of the Year award for her outstanding domestic run, while young talents like swimmer Himanshu Nandal and diver Palak Sharma took home awards as Most Promising Athletes of the Year.

"We are celebrating champions who have shown resilience in pursuing excellence," said Deepthi Bopaiah, CEO of GoSports Foundation. "The mission to nurture Indian athletes continues with our annual awards night."

For more than 15 years, the GoSports Foundation has been supporting Indian sports through mentorship and holistic support systems.